President Samia Suluhu Hassan's four-day state visit to India has resulted in a major breakthrough for Tanzania's pharmaceutical industry.
The two countries have signed an agreement to establish a pharmaceutical hub in Tanzania, which will make the country the leading producer and exporter of pharmaceuticals in the East, Central and Southern Africa region.
The deal is just one of fifteen Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) that were signed during President Samia's visit, covering a wide range of areas of cooperation, including trade, investment, defense, security, and healthcare.
One of the key agreements was the allocation of 1,000 acres of land in the Coast region for the establishment of an Industrial park with manufacturing industries from India. .
The industrial park, which will be located in the Coast region, will involve 200 Indian industries and produce pharmaceuticals, value-added products, and agricultural mechanization equipment.
It will also help to reduce Tanzania's reliance on imported pharmaceuticals, and make essential medicines more affordable for Tanzanians.
The Director of Presidential Communications, Zuhura Yunus, said that in the health sector, the two countries will collaborate on enhancing the capabilities of Tanzanian experts for liver transplants and the establishment of a renowned Apollo hospital branch in Tanzania.
In the defense sector, the countries will collaborate on technology transfer, joint military training, and sharing expertise.
They will also focus on maritime security, maritime trade, and the blue economy, working together to combat piracy, illegal fishing, and drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean.
In the agriculture sector, the government of Tanzania presented its $1 billion fund requirements for a major irrigation project to the Exim Bank of India to distribute water from Lake Victoria to central regions.
The signing of the MoUs is a significant step in strengthening relations between Tanzania and India. The two countries have a long history of cooperation, and these agreements will deepen that cooperation in a number of key areas.